Caribbean Style

Police officials today arrested a Prison Officer and prisoner on suspicion of marijuana trafficking within Her Majesty's Prison at Balsum Ghut.

Reports indicate that the prisoner was accompanied by the officer outside to wash a vehicle. When the prisoner was returning to the facility, a search was conducted and prison officials discovered the illegal substance.

Senior prison officials were informed and the Police were later called in to investigate the matter. Both the Prison Officer and the prisoner are being questioned at this time.

Although the names are known to BVI Platinum News, we will only make the disclosure if and when charges are laid.

There has always been the belief that Prison Officers are facilitating the movement of drugs and cellular phones within the facility. During the early part of last year, House of Assembly members were told at Standing Finance Committee that HMP faced a serious problem of cellular phones and drugs being trafficked into the prison and Prison Officers were the suspected culprits.

When grilled by Legislators and Premier Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal on whether there was information being received that inmates were calling outside of the prison to make arrangements, then Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Leslie McMaster told the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) that it was true to some extent.

At the time, he said the inmates were not leaving the prison and yet they had access to cell phones. He then stated that it was suspected that the Prison Officers were trafficking.

This prompted Communications and Works Minister, Hon. Julian Fraser to ask the acting head if when he speaks of trafficking he is referring to drugs. McMaster had said it is possible. However, when Richard Holder was appointed as Superintendent of Prisons, he promised to beef up security by putting in place stringent measures to address the issue of illegal items entering the prison, including cellular phones and drugs. At the time, he said Prison Officers would not be excluded.

"I have instructed all Prison Officers to have their cellular phones remain in their vehicles and not on the compound and I am the Superintendent and I lead by example - my phone is left in my vehicle. I use the main system...but I must say that we are getting cooperation so far. CCTV cameras will be placed at the entrance and a walk through scanner. They (Prison Officers) will have to enter the scanner before starting to work," Holder had assured.